Although sacred sites in the country are revered and protected, they remain vulnerable to vandalism and natural disasters such as fire. To enhance protection, the Home Affairs Minister said that the ministry has been classifying lhakhang and chorten across the country. The minister said the classification is based on their cultural and religious significance.
During the National Assembly question hour, the Home Affairs Minister revealed that over the past 12 years, more than 1,300 chorten and lhakhang have been vandalised.
To address this, Home Affairs Minister Tshering said they formed a dedicated committee and began classifying the monuments earlier this year.
Lhakhang are grouped into two categories: topmost priority and important to protect. So far, 226 lhakhangs fall under topmost priority, and over 2,200 are classified as important to protect.
Chorten are categorised into topmost priority, nationally important, and locally important. Around 1,600 chortens are listed as topmost priority, nearly 350 as nationally important, and over 1,000 as locally important.
The minister added that classifying sacred sites helps prioritise protection and disaster-resistant restoration, enhance legal safeguards, improve security, and strengthen community involvement.
“After consulting with the police, we decided to categorise the lhakhangs and chortens, as it would help the police monitor and respond more effectively to cases of theft and vandalism. We have started registering them.”
The ministry maintains detailed inventories of the main relics and raises awareness among caretakers about disaster prevention and crime reporting. It is also installing fire extinguishers and alarm systems in dzongs and key cultural sites, while incorporating fire safety measures into renovation plans.
“During forest fires, when lhakhang are at risk, constructing fire lines is crucial. In collaboration with the Department of Forests and Park Services, we have ordered fire lines to be built around heritage sites, and some are already completed,” said the Home Affairs Minister.
He added that work is underway to install a water reservoir near important sites.
Tashi Dekar
Edited by Sangay Chezom
